Article of furniture



H. E. JOHN ET'AL Sept. 13, 1949.

' ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed Dec. 11, 1945 m l m raks Ha ze/ E. c/o/mfugene A/len Jo/m BY A TTORNEYS Patented Sept. 13, 1949 UNITED STATEARTICLE OF FURNITURE Hazel E. John and Eugene Allen J ohn, Seattle,Wash.

Application December 11, 1945, Serial No. 634,263

. 13 Claims.

The present invention is concerned with an article of furniture whichmay take various forms, the article being herein represented in the formof a table. More particularly it is intended as a table for the useof'children, having incorporated in it convenient means for the storageof toys, books, play materials, and the like.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a table of the natureindicated, which may readily be knocked down for shipment, and the partsof which when assembled will be securely and rigidly interlocked andbraced in all its parts.

More particularly it is-an object to provide such a knockdown article offurniture, in which the several parts are capable of interfitting bycomplemental notches, grooves, and the like, without the use of anytools, in-such manner that each part holds previously assembled partseither positively locked in position, or frictionally so held, and eachpart as it is added further stiffens, braces, and strengthens thestructure as a whole.

It is, too, a further object to provide such a knockdown table in whichthe various locking and stiffening elements serve the further purpose ofaffording supports or shelves for the support of books, toys, dolls, andthe like, which are to be stored beneath the table, so that the greaterpart of the space beneath the table is thus usefully employed.

It is also an object to provide a knockdown article of furniture of thegeneral nature indicated, which, in addition to being sturdy whenassembled, is also of inexpensive and light construction.

With these and other objects in mind, as will appear hereafter, theinvention comprises the novel parts, and the novel manner of assemblingand relating these parts, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and aswill be hereinafter more fully explained in this specification anddefined by the claims which terminate the same.

In the accompanying drawings the invention is shown embodied in aknockdown table, and in a form which is at present preferred by us, butit will be understood that the invention may be incorporated in adifferent article of furniture, or for a different purpose, and it mayalso assume variant forms, within the scope of the invention as definedin the claims.

Figure 1 is an isometric exploded view of the parts, and Figure 2 is asimilar view showing the parts assembled.

For the support of the table top 5 a substructure is formed, whichsubstructure has the further function of affording storage space for thevarious articles for which a child has no ready place of storage. Thissubstructure generally consists of U-shaped end walls I, of which thereare two, somewhat spaced apart, two spaced side walls 2, disposedusually at right angles to the planes of the end walls -I a lowerhorizontally disposed plate member 3, which is in the nature of a finallocking member, as well as a large shelf, and smaller side shelf members4, which also serve to make rigid and to hold properly spaced the upperportions of the end walls.

Each substantially U-shaped end wall I has a cross bar portion In andupright arm portions H at each side. The cross bar portions Ill, inalignment with the inside edges of the upright arm portions, arevertically notched, as. indicated at 12. The lower edges of the, sidewalls 2 are complementally notched, as indicated at 22, so that thesenotches l2 and 22 can, in effect, interfit, and thereby the side walls 2are heldclose against the inner edges of the upright arm portions II,and the walls I and 2 mutually hold one another upright. Any equivalentinterfitting arrangement to the same ends may be substituted for thatdescribed.

The shelf members 4 are to a degree optional, but highly desirable anduseful. They are formed to interfit with theupright arms I I. Whenemployed they must be assembled with the end walls I in advance of theengagement of the side walls 2 with the end walls, or else they mustinterfit therewith by means somewhat different from that about to bedescribed. These shelf members 4 may interfit by reason of notches 43 intheir outer edges, in which case the upright arm portions ll of the endwalls arecomplementally notched in their inner edges, asindicated at l3.Two such notches [3 in each arm portion H are shown. The lower of theseis preferably in alignment with the upper edge of the cross bar portion,and the upper one is somewhat spaced thereabove. The shelf members 4 areof such width that when their notches 43 are interfitted with thenotches 13 of the end walls, the inner edges of the shelves are flushwith the inner edges of the upright arm portions ll; When thus in-'terengaged with the end walls the shelf members serve to prevent thetiltingof the end walls, and by employing two such shelf members at eachside the rigidity of the structure'is rather appreciable, even beforeassembly of the side walls 2. When these side walls 2: arefittedintoplace, as previously described, they will lock' in place the shelfmembers 4, for the latter are removable only by movement inwardlyrelative tothe upright arm portions II, and that is blocked by theinterposed side walls 2. The ends of the shelves, extending beyond thearm portions ll, serve as braces for the edges of the side walls 2, andare both useful and decorative.

When the side walls and end walls have been interfitted, the whole maybe secured in assembled relationship by a plate member 3. It is notmaterial precisely how this plate member 3 locks with the wall members;for it' s ufiices if; theplate memher be nierelyibfsuch wi dth as to.press'the side walls 2 outwardly against the inner edges Oftlfle I armsII, but a convenient means of interlocking consists of providing grooves23 in the inn er sur faces of the side walls 2 at the level of th eupperedge of the cross bar portions Illeof -theendwalls, forming the plate 3of such width as to fit snugly within, and to span the 2 space between,these grooves 23'. When thus inteifit'ted by movement of the platemember in its own plane, and-with the plate member preferably of alength to extend-.beyondanclirestmmmatileastrone, a d r erably uponeachend wall, theiend .wallshand the side. walls ,2 are.securely.neldeinplage- The.substructure soeassembled; wither, without the-.shelves; 4, mayjtconstituteuauseful article .of furniture; in itself-,and Jnayneednotop; or, since the-top performs-the .tunction of.urgingoutwardly the upper -.portions ofithe side. walls. 2za'gainst theinner edges,ofitheupriglitarms 11;, thereby. assisting the plate 3 infrictionallyuholding. thaend walls I and sidewallslsagain'st-relativelvertical separation, thisufunctiom'may.baaccomplishedin. part onwhollyi byran elementawhichi'in alliother re.-spects .is quite, unliketheetop 51' Any. spacer. element whichthuseurgesapart,thebpper.portions of the side wall's zabecomestheequivalent. of..the top; except l to'- the tops iunction ofeproviding aworkingsurface. l r

'I he shape f-=the top-5 is quiteimmaterial,- and a round shapel has-been shown asonepossible choic'e; It is reniovablysecured upon thesubstructure,- assembled as describ'edlbelew. Preferablythe tabletop-likewise interlocks to a degree with the substructure, as forexample, by -provideneughf apart to'fit-cldsely between-theupper-portions of the; side wallis fl'andgtp urge the-latter apart andt'd liold thm clsag ainst theupper portionsof 'the i i ner'a'ges or tneupright arm portions 11; Any c' Ii'ient means oif releasably securing'the; ta p nfthis position', resting upon th'e1upper-"edges of thevifalls, maybe employed,- such "a reecrew '25 and the eyes 52;" Thetdp-ifiay be thus r'eleasably securedto theend walls l or' -to the'side'walls 2; both types of wall pr fez-ably extend upwardly to icontact thtopi i V As will be--realiaedirern-comparisonoi Figures 1and-2,' thi s table ls' s'troiig and 'rigidwhen assembled;- yerrue-"assembly can 56 quicklyaccomplished withoutthe us (if any toplsThere-is provided byfthe plateinembea 3, a -largeledge or shelt in-themiddleof the tab'le for-the support of large article's, 'su'chsasadiills; small/warts; a'nd'ithe like, or which withtheltopaomittedLmight. serve as a seat, 'flankedby the arms-rainedbytheside wallsil Theshlfimemb'e'rsellrprovidelspace. for the reception.ofis'malli trinkets, book's,v andv the like, and'theendaportions ofitlieshelf members .4 may. :be nicelylroundedioflai soe that they; are .notonly .attractiveoin appearanca. but-.avoidJthe .formatiomoflsharp;cdrnersionlwh'icha childzmay injure. himself. The; top-e53 of course,provides. .='a space. on. whichsto playaanda work; The. plate member;3;, isipreierablya locate.d;-. ate a .sum-cient height that the childcannot comfortably nor con veniently place his feet upon it, and so thatit will serve primarily as a support for toys and the like. 5disassembled, without tools, and can be packed into extremely smallcompass for shipment. 7

All the parts of the table can be manufactured With a minimum ofequipment, from such relatively inexpensive, and light materialv asplywood. The only hardware is that involved inthe topsecurmg means.

We claim as our invention:

'1 an article of furniture comprising two spaced substantially U -shapedend walls having their arms disposed uprightly, and two spaced sidewalls abutting the inner edges of said upright arms of the end wallssaid side walls and end walls being complementally' notched to snuglyinterfit in such relationship by relative vertical movement, a subextnd-basket eas e uei ns vwali width that. whenintem se n S teSi QWa sat aaoi he. n a a s it r 1 wal a in t-fine inneredgesqf the u p, & s-oifgthe, nd walls eeter. at ve-v rt ca g awe f and de. wal s. an .9 sa 1.1 alla a ains wreck n alatcrel en e:-

Z A ar cl in-21W z emesiln s wc eaee al srbe naero. es 'fp theereg ptsmsbm aeral ,mov m nti ttheo pnes te d es ile -her la amt ther1eve1;oi;tneeupperredeesmirthetcrcss .barse l i -al szsueha allaaeainsd format p r aa ter bsens a l 3., An. article, or; furniture-s comprisinwo h pe d@end.-.wa11s.=havinettheir" msl pwardlw directed thebottomaedge oryegcr side wallgand the cross bar of each end Wall, inalignment with the. inner :edsesU-ot' itsnfight ZillizlbfiiQmpIQmentaIIy-nQtQhed taiiat rfir -r ectan utlar disposition,theeirmerafac sioh he idearm-l5 being.grooved:attheslevelrthaupnemedgeeoi the interfitted; ross ebarssottthea nda Wal is-l a asubst ntial yi horizont l; plate; memb r; &2 Width.equalltolthe-idistancei between theubpttems of such.oppositezeroeves.zslidablxireceivede heres in. and-urgin the; sideolttwardlyt einst the upright arms ..o..-.=the.=.endxwallsa tc. .deihel'"D?- aration of the.sidesandrendrwallfie. 1

4.; article. of furniture-Q comprising two spacedisubstantiallyiu-shapedaand;walla havin their. armsdirectedoupmardlu,and two. .snaeed side- Walls abuttings thaiinner edgesraofasaid up;right- .armsof; theee'nd: wells}. saide sideawal-lsrandend-walls.beingcomplem nta lyinptchedteesm stx interfit i in-..such,-relationshiprbyrmelativei vertical movement, asubstantiallmherizontalrillatezmflma ber of a. widthtolspamtherd stanneb tween sa d side Qwaus, andieof a-len tmta extendznastzatdeast one endWall, at least one of theatwmpppgsite sidewallsebeingt o izmtallyjroovedtee ec i inter? engagement? toe, brace three. eudr and; sidesW511i against ;wracking.-lim .allatexaksemfia ndkteedeteli The wholetable may quickly and easily be stantially horizontal plate member of alength e amer? spac d.sidewa s;anditwprspacedo subst ntial-1y theirrelative vertical separation, and a. top sup- '5. An' article offurniture comprising two spaced substantially U-shaped end walls eachhaving its arms disposed uprightly, and two spaced side walls abuttingthe inner edges. of said upright. arms of the end walls, said side wallsand end walls being complementally notched to snugly. interfit in suchrelationship by relative vertical movement, a substantially horizontalplate member. of a width to span the distance between said side walls,and of a length to extend past at least one end wall,'at' least one oftwo opposite side walls being horizontally grooved to receive the edgeof the plate member, by such interengagement to brace the end and sidewalls against wracking in a lateral sense, and to deter their relativevertical separation, and atop supported upon and removably secured tothe upper edge of the wall structure thus formed, and having spacermembers closely fitting the inside portions of the uppermost andopposite wall members.

6. An article of furniture comprising two spaced side walls and twospaced substantially U-shaped end walls having their arms upwardlydirected, th bottom edge of each side wall and the cross bar of each endwall, in alignment with the'in'ner edges of its upright arms, beingcomplementally notched to interfit in rectangular disposition, asubstantially horizontal plate member of a length to extend past andrest upon the cross bar of the two end walls, and of a width to span thedistance between said side walls, thus to hold the opposite side wallsoutwardly against the inner edges of the arms of the end walls, at thelevel of said upper edges of the cross bars of the end walls, to lockthe side and end walls against deformation in a lateral sense, and todeter their separation in a vertical sense, and a top resting upon theupper edges of the walls, and secured to certain thereof by readilydisengageable means.

7. An article of furniture comprising two spaced side walls and twospaced substantially U-shaped end walls each having its arms upwardlydirected, the bottom edge of each side wall and the cross bar of eachend wall, in alignment with the inner edges of its upright arms, beingcomplementally notched to interfit in rectangular disposition, the innerfaces of the side walls being grooved, at the level of the upper edge ofthe interfitted cross bars of the end walls, and a substantiallyhorizontal plate member of a width equal to the distance between thebottoms of such opposite grooves, slidably received therein and urgingthe side walls outwardly against the lower portions of the inner edgesof the arms of the end walls, a top resting upon the upper edges of thewalls, cleats upon the under surface of the top spaced apartsufficiently to interflt between the upper edges of the opposite sidewalls and to urge the latter outwardly against the inner edges of theupper portions of the arms of the end walls, and readily disengageablemeans to secure said top to the supporting wall structure.

8. An article of furniture comprising two spaced substantially U-shapedend walls each having its arms extended upwardly, and two spaced sidewalls abutting the inner edges of said upright arms of the end walls,said side walls and end walls being complementally notched to interfitin such relationship by: relative vertical movement, a;substantiallyhorizontal plate member of a lengthto extend pastat leastone end wall, and

of a Width such that, when interposed between the two opposite sidewalls, at the level of the cross bars of the end walls, it. urges theside wallsagainstthe inner edges of the upright arms of the end walls todeter relative vertical separation of the endand side walls, and to locksuch walls against wracking in a. lateral sense, and shelf membersnotched in the plane of theupright arm portions of the end walls, saidupright arm portions being complementally notched .to interfit therewithfor support of said shelf members, and to space apart the upright armportions thus joined. 1 f

Y 9. An article of furniture comprising two spaced substantiallyU-shaped end walls each having its arms extended upwardly, and twospaced side walls abutting the'inner edges of said upright arms of theend walls, said side walls and end :walls being complementallynotched-to interfit in such relationship by relative vertical movemerit,a substantially horizontal plate member of a length to extend past atleast one end wall, and of a width such that, when interposed betweenthe two opposite side walls, at the level of the crossbars of the end.walls, it urges the side wallsagainst the inner edges of the uprightarms of the end walls to deter relative'vertical separation of the endand side walls, and to lock such walls against wracking in a'lateralsense, and-shelf members notched in their outer edges, adjacent eachend, of a length to extend beyond the upright arm portions of the endwalls at each side, said arm portions being complementally notched intheir inner edges to interfit the shelf notches by relative lateraloutward movement of the shelf members, and to leave the latters inneredges substantially flush with the inner edges of the upright armportions, for pas-sage of the side walls.

10. A knockdown table comprising two spaced substantially U-shaped endwalls, having their arms extended upwardly, and having vertical notchesin the cross bar portion disposed in alignment with the inner edges ofsaid upright arm portions, and having horizontal notches in such uprightarm portions in alignment with the upper edge of the cross bar portion,and also spaced thereabove, shelf members each having complementalnotched in its outer edge interfitting said horizontal notches in thearm portions of the end walls, to support the shelf members and to holdthe upright arm portions rigid and spaced, said shelf members when sointerfitted having their inner edges substantially flush with the inneredges of the upright arm portions, side walls notched at their loweredges to interfit the vertical notches in the cross bar portion of theend walls, and when so interfitted abutting the inner edges of the shelfmembers, to retain them in place, and of the upright arm portions, asubstantially horizontal plate member, the inner surfaces of the sidewalls being grooved at the level of the upper edges of the cross barportion of the end walls, and the plate member being of a width to beslidably received in said grooves, a top resting upon the upper edges ofsaid walls, and readily releasable means to secure said top in suchposition.

11. An article of furniture comprising two substantially U-shaped endwalls disposed side by side in upright planes, with their horizontalportions lowermost and their arms projecting up,

WQMWWGE-W31I simila'lfly'sfieee afiart bfit disposed irhupri'g l'it meme-which zitrBefi-tlie plfines of tli'e wens; said 'sid wlls abtittifigtheizineredees oi 131$ upright arm's dfi-"the efid Walls,- and nbthed todvellap tlie -end' mile at liothesides ofaeaehe thereof; and therebwtopre vent relative approach or: separation ofithe en'd walle-a:substantiallyhorizontal plate eta-width andshape=to'extenebetweexgsandiw engage side walls; in :thevicinityaofii'thwherizefitalepor tions df theeen'd wealls and whereby:town-01w the lender portions. of themide wallsdm centaetr with thee-11mmedg es ofirthe'arms ofithe emtiwallsy and tolepre'i ent approach.ofiasuelii luwer pdrtins of thee sidewialll'sx-g i.

12. An article of furniture corirpri'sihgzti'imsuh uyshapedx end:diseased Msi'de by side il i umghtiplanes; .withztheiri hori'tzciimtaltionsx lewermost": and: their; 'armss-rprdjeetmgaupiwardlm two:sidewalls similarlvlsnaieedaapartlhut disposed ifiwuprighti. planes;whiem intersect. the planes of:thesend'zwallsreesaickssidecwalls"abutting thminnerE edgeszof thenrigwhtealrmsizof theeend wallet; andsnoteheda to.: overlap; thee endwallsa a1; both sides}; of I each :thereofi: andztherebw'to pie?vane-relative; approach: on separatiom of: the end Wallss;aesubstantiallm honizzmteh plate z(x5521 width and shaspe to: extendbetween 1am; to senga ezboth side;:wa11s,-;-

thewici-nity ofitheehomzental pore r ionsaefs hewendzzwall-seam;thGiBhYa-BO heldst he lew txnortionsf f the side wallsiimcontabtg withhee-innerr eclee vofz the arms;; of; the :end: walls, SQQ tO JPB-BYGHFappruacha of; sue-h lewen: portions of the side walls and-@means smemganartathe Number the: latter against the irmer: edgswf the a rmiss't'antiemy fil shap'ed e'rid Wall's dispbsed: side by side m parallellaneswithjneirnstrme project i'r'ig upwardly',- twb -spaiced iside wensd'iSpDSelie131;

right angles to the end -wallls a etrrd abutting the iwpectivei inneredgesof: the upright? arm of the-end wal'le, and each havingz wdependmgidwer portion which 1 is interposed r amid abuts tl'i e up-x i'ght'innerifajees of zt'heflhorizentahpuntier-1eof 'the-e'nd walk, tomaintaix'i: the" latter spaeed-i apart," asubstantiallya'hbriiontwliplate upright inner faces of 'andithiisatmsia'awzmpamt said s ide walls; and to rest upomthewh orizbntalportions: of the" encl- .lwa.11s;:'a,nd tmeamsumtercontmeeting andmaintaining;.thesspacmzbetweeticthe upper: portions .e ofthe sidewall-52nEriErmmcesgcrTnnz The following references are of recordfiin' the'

